The Aristotelian and

Galilean Conceptions of
Vertical Motion,
Horizontal Motion, and
Projectile Motion
After going through this module, you are
expected to:

1. Describe the Aristotelian concepts of vertical motion,

horizontal motion, and projectile motion;

2. Describe the concepts of vertical motion, horizontal motion,

and projectile motion according to Galileo; and

3. Compare and contrast the Aristotelian and Galilean

conceptions of vertical motion, horizontal motion, and projectile
motion.
Motion is the action of changing
location or position. Life is motion. From
the coordination of the muscles of our
body which enables us to walk, run, and
dance to the pumping of our hearts to
deliver blood to the different parts our
bodies are motion.
HORIZONTAL/VERTICAL MOTION
According to Aristotle, motion can be either
natural or violent motion. In a natural motion, the
object will move and will return to its natural state
based on the object's material or composition. In
contrast, an object moving in a violent motion
requires an external force (push or pull) for the
object to move.
 Aristotle’s Concept of
Vertical Motion, Horizontal
Motion, and Projectile
Motion
 Aristotle’s Concept of Vertical Motion,
Horizontal Motion, and Projectile Motion

1. Vertical Motion

Vertical motion is referred to as natural motion. In a

natural motion, the object will move and will return to its
natural state based on the objects material or
composition - earth, water, air, and fire.
• For example, Aristotle
believed that because a ball
fell when thrown upward its
element was earth.

• Smoke goes up the air because

it seeks its natural place in the
atmosphere.
 Aristotle’s Concept of Vertical Motion,
Horizontal Motion, and Projectile Motion

2. Horizontal Motion

An object moving in a violent motion requires push

or prill to maintain horizontal motion. Motion
continues only so long as there is an applied force to
object. When the force is removed, motion stops
The example at the right
shows piled boxes of food
donations. The boxes will
remain on the floor unless a
push or a pull force is applied.

Violent motion is imposed

motion caused by pushing or
pulling.
Aristotle classified any motion
that required a force as a "violent
motion". (He did not mean violent
in the sense that it is marked by
the use of harmful or destructive
physical force.)
 Aristotle’s Concept of Vertical Motion,
Horizontal Motion, and Projectile Motion
3. Projectile Motion

Aristotle believed that the projectile motion of an

object is parallel to ground until it is the object's time to
fall back into the ground. An impetus will be kept by the
object until such time that the initial force is forgotten,
and the on returns to its natural state to stop moving
and fall to the ground.
He viewed projectile motion as natural and violent
motion. He said that heavy objects fall faster than light
ones.

The illustration shows

an example of cannon
fired which gives the
cannonball an impetus.
 Galileo's Concept of
Vertical Motion,
Horizontal Motion,
and Projectile Motion
Galileo Galilei believed that a
projectile motion is a combination of
uniform motion in the horizontal
direction and uniformly accelerated
motion in the vertical direction.
 Galileo’s Concept of Vertical Motion,
Horizontal Motion, and Projectile Motion

1. Vertical Motion

In the absence of a resistance, objects would fall not

depending on their weight, but in the time of fall. Also, if
the object encountered a resistive force from a fluid equal
or greater than its weight, it will slow down and reaches a
uniform motion until it reaches the bottom and stops.
For example, without any
resistance, a 1-kg object will be as
fast as a 10-kg object when falling
because they fall with the same
amount of time, given that they are
released from the same height.

Also, a stone dropped in the ocean

will sooner or later travel at
constant speed.
 Galileo’s Concept of Vertical Motion,
Horizontal Motion, and Projectile Motion

2. Horizontal Motion

An object in motion, if impeded, will continue to be

in motion, and an external force is not necessary to
maintain the motion. If the Earth's surface is very fat
and infinitely, objects that are pushed will not be
impeded.
• For example, if a ball is pushed on an infinitely
flat plane, the ball will continue to roll if
unimpeded.
 Galileo’s Concept of Vertical Motion,
Horizontal Motion, and Projectile Motion

3. Projectile Motion

Galileo performed experiments on uniformly

accelerated motion using an inclined plane, and used
the same apparatus to study projectile motion.
For example, when
you shoot a ball in a
basketball ring, the
ball does not need a
force to keep it
moving.
Galileo was credited for quantifying the
rate of fall" by measurement of distance
and time and plotting it graphically. He was
able to slow down the "fall" using rampe
rather than viscous materials as Aristotle
did resulting to significantly different
conclusions related to the "rate of fall".
He believed that a projectile is a
combination of uniform motion in the
horizontal direenon and uniformly
accelerated motion in the vertical
direction. If it is not impeded, it will
continue to move even without an applied
force.
Thank
you!
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